To start things off Legacy OS 2 Gamer has been released. Months of testing and searching the Internet for Pentium III compatible Games has resulted in this release. From Card games to 3D type games like Prboom the open source release of the classic game Doom, this release will bring many hours of fun for families who can't afford Quad Core Gaming PC's and only have access to Pentium III and 4 PC's. Also included in this release is Opera 12 Web Browser with Flash for excellent HTML5 Internet browsing and Amarok Music Player to manage your music collection. Pentium III PC's make great Jukeboxes when connected to a Amplifier and a couple of Speakers. To complete this release and upcoming releases the look and feel has been updated. Just does tell friends how old your PC is and they'll never know. (Please Note: Legacy OS 2.1 Gamer is for PC's built from 2000 to 2006. While most of these PC's will run Legacy OS, due to the large number of variances in Hardware Specification not all will be supported. As Legacy OS is a free download all you have to lose is one blank CD.)

Legacy OS : The best way to be compatible with old Hardware is to build on top of an old legacy System Core...

Each Legacy OS Series 2 release builds on the release before. Legacy OS 2 Series System Core dates back to 2006. It is about refining a concept to bring Users of old Computers an Operating System built for Today's needs up to a point. WiFi and Bluetooth aren't supported due to the fact the Hardware Legacy OS Series 2 is intended for most likely doesn't have them installed. Ethernet and Dial Up connection only. Turn a Windows 98/ME/XP SP1 PC in to a modern usable Desktop to surf the Net, Listen to Music, Create documents, Play Games and More.

Legacy OS Series 2 sadly won't run on all 2000 to 2006 PC's released. As Legacy OS is a free download all you have to lose is one blank CD. Try Legacy OS Live before installing to confirm compatibility with your Hardware. (Note: Generally the more basic the hardware the more chance you have of a successful install! Fancy Graphic Cards and alike aren't supported. If you have such Hardware Legacy OS 2 isn't for you!)

OTHER SO CALLED MINI DISTRO'S FOR OLDER HARDWARE FILL A CD AND GIVE YOU VERY LITTLE AT START UP!

Legacy OS 2 fits on a CD so old PC's with CD Drives only can still use Legacy. What's the use of providing a Legacy Operating System on a DVD if the User can't run it?
I do a lot of testing of other Distro's to see what the world of "Open Source" is up to and not develop in isolation. What really disappoints me is how little is included in these so called Mini Distro's. A user has to spend hours adding all the Applications they need which in turn no longer make these Mini Distro's MINI !!!

At this point even I realize how unique Legacy OS 2 really is. The number of Applications included in Legacy OS 2 by default really is amazing. Years of searching the Internet for lost forgot gems and incorporating in Legacy brings to the user a great install and use Operating System. In 15-30 minutes a user can install Legacy OS 2 to a COMPATIBLE 2000 - 2006 PC / Laptop and begin watching Youtube, playing MP3's etc which normally requires some extra install of so called "Restricted" pack. Now lets say a user has no access to the Internet for one reason or another and requires Codecs etc what do they do?

Legacy OS 2.1 Gamer is the Tenth release with version 1.0.0 originally being released back in March 2007

What's the Difference between Legacy OS 2 and Legacy OS 4 Mini

Legacy OS 2 is based on the Puppy 2 Series (Kernel 2.6.18)
Legacy OS 4 Mini is based on the Puppy 4 Series (Kernel 2.6.25)

TIME LINE PREVIOUS RELEASES

Legacy OS 4 Mini.iso included on 2nd DVD of October 2012 issue of Linux Format Magazine

If you've brought this issue and would like to try Legacy OS 4 Mini then there is no need for you to download the iso.

2012 Legacy OS 4 Mini is Here!

Today sees the release of Legacy OS 4 Mini an Update / Replacement for TEENpup 2010 Mini Beta. Those updating from TEENpup 2010 Mini Beta will need to save any important documents, music etc to an external Hard Drive, USB stick etc as a full reinstall is required to update to this new version, sorry!
This release sees TEENpup 2010 Mini Beta rebranded to Legacy OS 4 Mini. Users now have a choice between Legacy OS 2 (Puppy Series 2 based) and Legacy OS 4 Mini (Puppy Series 4 based) depending on Hardware / Requirements.

New to Legacy OS, what’s with the name? Legacy OS as the name suggests is a Linux Distribution designed to run on obsolete Legacy Hardware. A User should be able to bring back to life a PC or Laptop running a Pentium III or 4 Processor. This release of Legacy OS is targeted at users running a minimum of the following: Pentium III 800Mhz Processor with 256Mb’s of Ram and a minimum of 4GB for the Hard Drive. Those with the last generation of Pentium 4 Processors with 1GB of Ram and a 40GB plus size Hard Drive will enjoy applications that open fast and run fast.

Another important aspect of Legacy OS is the way it looks. Just because you're using legacy Hardware doesn't mean it needs to look like it. Very few Users want to use something that looks like Windows 95. Legacy OS 4 Mini brings to a user a modern up to date Desktop with a Quick Launch Application / Information Sidebar unique to Legacy OS.

With this release come a large number of improvements which will provide the average User with a better overall experience. Legacy OS 4 Mini now includes Firefox and Opera by default. To make your online experience as enjoyable as possible, Adobe Flashplayer 11, Java 1.6.0_30 and a number of other Plugins and Codecs are included ready to go. No need to download anything once the install is completed. For Chat Skype and Pidgin are included. Transmission and Ktorrent are included for file sharing. Osmo and Kontact for managing Appointments, Birthdays, Phone Numbers and more. Amarok and Javatunes should be able to manage anyone’s Music Collection. Photo collections will be easily managed by Digikam. From playing CD’s to ripping them to MP3 it’s all included. Ebooks are covered by FBreader, Pdf’s by Foxit and Kpdf. Got a need to create some Graphics / Drawing apps like Qcad, Kivio, Kolourpaint, Inkscape, Dia, JFdraw, Kiconedit have you covered. Want to watch Movies on your PC / Laptop, Legacy OS 4 Mini comes with a large range of Multimedia Players and Codecs by default.

I encourage a user to spent time with this release, because only with time will a user discover how usable Legacy OS 4 Mini can be.

After 9 months of development, today sees the release of Legacy OS 2.
With this release comes a host of improvements over Legacy OS. Many questions were asked about what makes a good Operating System. Users who have installed and used the previous release of Legacy OS regularly for a period of time will notice the improvements. I recommend everyone using Legacy OS to upgrade to Legacy OS 2. (Requires Re-install)

Where to start? The focus was to look at all expects of Legacy OS and make improvements.
We started by looking at the default Desktop and the gtk and kde themes it used.
It was decided to create a pleasant neutral look to tie all the include applications together. A desktop environment that was easy on the eye and usable every day. The look had to be usable for those who want or need to use Legacy OS 2 as their main Operating System.
While the gtk and kde themes share common elements, there are differences by design.
You'll only find one Window Manager (ICEWM). One icewm, gtk and kde theme. The goal was to keep it as simple as possible. We didn't want to confuse new users with multiple options.
Next was the look and feel of the applications. How does each application look to the user.
Does it look dated, what can we do to make it more visually appealing so users will want to use it. Can it be updated to a later version?

A large number of icons were replaced and for the first time new icons were created or modified especially for Legacy OS 2. Unique start up "Splash" imagines were created for a number of Applications.
We looked at ways of making it easier and faster to access applications through the sidebar, task bar and menu.
Where needed pop up messages provide unique information about an application to a user.
Applications like the ROX File Manager allow easy access to tasks by just right mouse clicking on a file.

Now it was time to turn our attention to the Applications included in Legacy OS.
Any application for one reason or another not up to standard was removed. Unused system files were deleted.
Archived repositories of many Distro's were searched for suitable applications. Forum's were searched back a number of years for lost and forgotten applications. These all had to be tested.
All the applications included in Legacy OS 2 were chosen for one reason or another. Yes we know there are newer versions available. What we looked for wasn't the age of the application but its usability, reliability and suitability on the Legacy Hardware this Operating System is designed for.

A number of files applications rely on have also been updating.
For Example: ffmpeg updated to 0.6.1 (A number of newer multimedia formats now supported)

The Hard Drive Installer has been improved within the original framework. Message boxes to guide a user through the install and rewording of the Installer should allow more users to successfully install Legacy OS 2 on their Hard Drives. While it's no up to Ubuntu standards, it's still an improvement over the Installer in Legacy OS.

The above processors were performed many times over and are what makes Legacy OS 2 our best release ever!
I hope you enjoy using Legacy OS 2 as much as we enjoyed creating it for you!

During development Legacy OS is tested on 8 different PC's and 2 Laptops to confirm it runs with no problems. It appears from Feedback received that those experiencing problems may be using PC's / Laptop's that are "TOO NEW!".

The best PC's / Laptop's to try Legacy OS on don't have fancy Graphics Cards etc. Your looking for PC / Laptop that came with a 800 Mhz or greater Pentium III or 4 Processor (CPU), 256Mb of RAM and a 4Gb Hard Drive. Most basic PC's / Laptop's built between 2000 and 2006 should work.

Thanks to "sneekylinux" anyone can learn to Format and install Legacy OS to their Hard Drive, Setup their Screen Resolution with "Xvesa" when "Xorg" doesn't work , Configure their Sound if not auto detected at boot up and get their Ethernet (wired) Internet connection set up all in this wonderful 11 minute Video !!!

Legacy OS has the most chance of working on a old PC / Laptop that came with a IDE Hard Drive, basic on board graphics and not to much else.
Expecting it to run on a modern duo core PC with the latest and greatest graphics card, Wifi, Bluetooth and have them all work is asking to much.

My advice is to seek what you'd think would be the best candidate for the nearest Landfill site and boot Legacy OS up on that.

The Bad News: If you successfully get it up and running, forget about using it Wirelessly (you may be lucky as minimum wireless driver support) or connecting your Bluetooth device to it. Also don't expect much luck with your Webcam either. Legacy OS isn't sounding that great is it! maybe its not for you.

The Good News: Once you except the limitations of Legacy OS you will start to appreciate what Legacy OS had to offer. Start by connecting it by Ethernet (Wired) once you have that up and running, you now have the perfect tool to do a bit of Web surfing, keeping up with friends on and Twitter, receive Emails, write a quick letter, create a 3D drawing, listen to MP3's, watch a few AVI's, download stuff the list goes on and on.

See Legacy OS as a second PC for the family or child you wouldn't have because the budget at the moment won't extend to buying a new $$$ one.

Don't have a second PC even an old one? Worldwide there are a large number of old PC's sitting idle just waiting for Legacy OS to bring them back to life. Asking a family member or friend if they have one tucked away, the answer might surprise you when they happily thank you for taking it, saving them a trip to the local dump...